Tom Sheehan sent email about his duty flying with the 58th Weather Recon.
From: "tom sheehan" tomtom@chesco.com
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: 58th Weather Recon
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2000
Keith
I just read a letter on the net written by a member of the 58th Wea Recon Squadron, at Eilson AFB Alaska. I too was a member of that outfit and also flew quite a few of those classified missions. My name is Cornelius Thomas Sheehan. I was with the 58th until it was dissolved and was sent to McChord and was asigned to the 55th Weather Recon., that was in mid 1958 where we would go back to Alaska for a time to fly the so called weather missions.
Thank you
C. Thomas Sheehan
tomtom@chesco.com
From: "tom sheehan" tomtom@chesco.com
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: mission info
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000
Dear Keith
I was assigned to the 58th weather recon, approximately February, 1958. It was a long time ago and things are a little vague but I do remember the two flights one was called Ptarmigan and the other Loon.
As I recall Ptarmigan was over the North Pole and Loon was out over the Pacific. When the flaps were on I think it was called Loon Echo and that was the flight that we collected the atomic data. I think we flew toward the Bering Sea and who knows where else because it was classified.
I recall large protrusions on top of the WB 50's that were used to collect the atomic data. We being radio operators and dropsonde operators sat in the rear of the plane. The drop sonde operators were responsible for pulling down the screens and putting them in the envelopes as radio operators and crew members, we helped them do this on several occasions not knowing the dangers. I so far have not been affected???, but I understand others have. Through your website I have contacted one of these people and he was with the 58th and 55th as I was.
As I mentioned, I was with the 58th and then transferred to the 55th at McChord were I was seperated in February 1959, and was honorably discharged in June 1962, after my 8 year obligation. I would love to hear from anyone else who was there.
Thank you
Cornelius Thomas Sheehan
Airman 1/class
Email: tomtom@chesco.com
Keith Whittle
January 19, 2000
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